What Makes A Good Book?

I like slow books, but it's so interesting that you don't mind the story taking ages because you could just live in the story (most books are slow for me anyway although I'm getting quicker at reading!). I like the characters to be easy to relate to or relate to other people. I love metaphors, similes, subtle hints but I hate it when it's too flowery. A good book makes you feel good even if the story is sad or scary.

I know I love a book if I need to read it over and over. I like books that are quotable, if that makes sense. Like they're really witty. I love twists and imagery and imaginative and unpredictable storylines.

I don't know, really. You know if it's a good book because you feel it.

If it makes me cry.
Movies can't do that to me. I get so much more emotionally involved with the characters in books.

If it flows and the writer has a good grip on the language.
If it has a spectacular twist
If it excites me
If it is verrry sexy
If the literary technique(s) intrigues me
If I relate to the character deeply
If the subject is taboo
If its weird or funny

doesn't have to be all of the above, but its what's needed to hold my interest.

Man, this is such a good topic I don't understand why no one is posting in it!
*bump!!*

Oh and I also love pretty much any book about junkies.

kearyn, have you read trainspotting? its an amazing book, although its all written with a scottish accent and slang so takes a bit of deciphering
if i can't stop thinking about the plot and whats going to happen, or if I cant put down, or if if after I've read it I think about the story and have to reread bits, that to me is a good book.
kitten, I totally get the quotable thing.

oh yes, oooohhh yesssss. Trainspotting is one of my favorite books. I thought they did a pretty good job with the movie too.

yeah its a cool film, but once you've read the book you can't help but tell people what really happend while their watching it!. I've got the sequel, Porno, but still havn't read it

If it makes me think about a subject I hadn't thought about before, or about think about myself or life in a new way.
Characters that have depth to them, with a good back story, or that you can understand why they do certain things.
If it takes me away to a new world or time and I can totally imagine what that place would be like, so yeh great imagery is a huge plus for me.
Inspiring characters, honesty in the story telling(like not being afraid to kill of characters)

Ooh yeah, and characters that you can't QUITE relate to, and the author has to work a bit to make you sympathise with them. And then maybe after, you realise that you shouldn't (like in Trainspotting and Clockwork Orange)

Survivor by Chuck Palahnuik is such an incredibly awesome book, I reccomend it to everyone. My favourite quote was "The smoke felt heavy in my lungs, like how it would feel if I had a soul" (or something along those lines)

And yeah Rosie, I get what you mean about Trainspotting. The film IS good, but it just goes away from the book so much that it annoys me slightly. The ending really bothered me.

Yeah I felt like that about clockwork orange, you root for alex all the way, even though he's soo horrible. again, film good, book better. you know they published it with a DICTIONARY of nadsat in the US? (im assuming you've read it)
thats all the same for me too, opposites.
I desperatley wanna read some Chuck!

hell yeah it had a dictionary, I used it too. :-D
naturally having read the book spoils the film. books are better anyways.

I managed to understand most of Clockwork Orange without having to use a dictionary, actually. I think the film doesn't use that language well enough though. And yeah Rosie, you end up feeling so sorry for Alex, even though he really is scum.

Palahnuik is great, I was looking for Fight Club because I have the film and wanted to read the book first, but apparently it's one of those rare occasions where the film is better, so I got Survivor instead which is brilliant.

I have only read Lullaby by Chuck, it was a few years ago, but I think I enjoyed it. And the short Guts which is gross! haha

Oh I think Lullaby is Tim's favourite by him